"From my work in the Solu Khumbu [Everest] region, I know that this kind of facility is extremely important for this country," Sir Edmund said. "The hill people who injure their backs as a result of falls from trees, trails and hillsides require a rehabilitation centre such as this."

The Rehabilitation Centre opened in a converted hospital with three paraplegics in its ward - a boy from Solu Khumbu, a villager from Sindhuli, a labourer from Champaran in India - as well as a woman with a disease of the spine. The Centre is run by the Spinal Injury Sangha Nepal, in collaboration with the Nepal Disabled Association.

"There is a great demand for rehabilitation services of this kind in the country, and we can expect our 30 beds to be completely occupied before long," said Dr. Anil Shrestha, an orthopaedist who is the Technical Director of the Centre.

At the opening, Kanak Mani Dixit, Chairman of the Sangha, said it was essential to come to the aid of those affected by one of the most excruciating of injuries - that of the spine, which disables a person and drastically affects the quality of life of both the victim and his/her family.

Kanak, who was inspired to create the Centre while recovering from a severe neck injury (the result of a trekking accident in August 2000), said the Sangha requires NRs Forty Lakh (USD 51 thousand) to run the Centre at "full strength". At the time of opening, the Sangha had managed to raise NRs Eight Lakh, he said, while appealing for support to allow the centre to see through its first year. The Spinal Injury Sangha Nepal is a registered non-profit society.